TIME TO SAY GOOD-BYE

Today was our last day with Brad and Tara. What a wonderful experience with two creative artists that we will always refer to as our friends. I wanted to show the work of three more of our students that have not been shown in the blog as of yet. First is Jody and his tile pertaining to art. Second is Cameron holding his tile about education in general and finally there is Travis who is admiring his tile about dreams. These three young men have class with me during my planning period. Being advanced students, I asked Brad if they might be included in the project even though they are not in my third period class. He and Tara both agreed that they should be included. For the last time we went back to the list that we had created on our first day together. This time we gave Brad and Tara ideas as to how to illustrate the words that we did not have time to complete. They will do these tiles for us. Even though we won’t create these particular tiles, they will be done using our original ideas! Once that was complete, Brad asked some of the students who were finished with their tiles to pose for photographs. He and Tara took lots of pictures of any kind of pose that might possibly be used in the piece of sculpture. The students posed stretching upward and bending over. Then it was time for us all to go outside to view the sites for the location of the piece. Brad asked them to choose three sites. Once they did we voted. They were allowed to choose just one site. I was surprised about the site that received the most votes. Brad explained to them that choosing a site was also part of doing public art. He also explained to them that some times lots of other issues came into play such as aesthetics, finances, and preparation of the site itself. One of our sites is covered with concrete. If it is chosen part of that concrete will have to be removed for the foundation of the piece and for lighting; however, two of the sites were on grass. We were told that if these sites were chosen there would be the possibility of pavers being installed around the foundation of the piece. Once we got back inside, there was just enough time for Brad to have a quick critique on the tiles done by the students and they had time to thank Brad and Tara for all they had done for us and WCHS. Here is our last photo together. What a wonderful group of students who have done an awesome job during this two week residency. In closing my students and I agreed that since Brad and Tara had been with us for two weeks they were now officially Vikings – AND ONCE A VIKIING, ALWAYS A VIKING!

Larry Hewett

NEXT TO LAST DAY

Well today is our next to last day with Brad and Tara. Everyone is working diligently in order to complete their tiles. Included in the photos are: my homebound student Jessica and her music tile; Cheyenne is working on her “connections” piece; Mr. Kelly Jones, Columbus County Arts Supervisor is watching the progress of one of my students; Erik has missed a few days and is hurriedly trying to make up for lost time; Astreia’s beautiful piece illustrating her word “peace”; and finally Elizabeth’s picture of a horse accepting an apple which illustrates her word “trust”. I can hardly believe that the residency is almost over. Tomorrow all the tiles will be complete and we will have to say good-bye. This has to have been the best of all the artist-in-residency programs that I’ve ever been part of. I have learned as much as my students and now together we will let this serve as a starting point for much more wonderful pieces of creative sculpture to come. Tomorrow we will go outside to view the possible sites for the location of the finished sculpture.

Larry Hewett

A POP QUIZ

Today's class was a short one because we had early release. So I thought I would give you all a pop quiz. I have uploaded photographs of seven students' tiles. See if you can match the word that they are trying to illustrate with the correct photograph. The seven words are as follows: rhythm, unity, pride, ambition, achievement, diversity and determination. We should all complete our tiles tomorrow. All we have to do is to add texture in the background which creates contrast with the 3-D forms. My students and myself are really excited and amazed at the progress that everyone has made.

Larry

WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON CLAY TILES

Today's class began with Tara assisting all students with they tiles. Here she is helping Ronald who is having somewhat of a problem with his image of a wall being climbed by people. As she monitors the students' progress, Brad is busy making his last clay tile. One of my students had been out for two days and we didn't have a tile for him so Brad had to make one quickly. Now having his tile, John tries to catch up with his classmates. He wants a picture of a bird for his symbol so he looks in the encyclopedia and luckily finds exactly what he is looking for. Astreia's symbol for peace and mine for community seem to be getting close to completion. Well the class went by so quickly today. Time to put all the tiles away until tomorrow. Hopefully we will complete this one then.

Larry Hewett

LAST WEEK WITH BRAD AND TARA BEGINS

Monday started our last week with Brad and Tara. I can not put into words how excited I am about this workshop and how proud I am of my students who have turned out some absolutely wonderful work. The class started with Brad bringing out one foot square tiles for each of us. Even though this looked like the same clay we had used to do our figurative sculptures it was a different kind. This was brick clay. Brad talked briefly to the students about the clay and what we were going to be doing this last week. He explained that this first tile would be done using the additive process as opposed to the subtractive. Additive means that we were to add clay on top of the tile - not dig down into it which would be subtractive. Both Brad and Tara suggested that we each think about the words that we had chosen the previous week and try to come up with a visual symbol for them both. Some students found this to be very easy and started immediately to draw their sketches directly into the clay tile. Others had to think more about their words perhaps because some of the words did not lend themselves as easily to a symbol as others. Ravon and Erik decided to look up their words in the dictionary to perhaps get an idea that they had not previously thought about. One student asked me to take a photograph of three interlocking hands for her symbol of unity. Once everyone had their ideas either on paper, on their tiles or in their head, they eventually began to start the process of adding clay to build up the surface. We added and added and added more and more clay. During this part of the process we were not particularly interesting in detail or texture but rather the shape and form. Finally after a great class it was time to put away all the tiles for the evening. It was very impressive to see how much we accomplished in this first day!

Larry Hewett

FIRST WEEK WITH BRAD AND TARA ENDS

Yesterday ended our first week with Brad and Tara. It like all the other classes was a great one. To begin with we completed the carving that we started the day before. Yes, poor Raheem got back into his kneeling pose so that we were able to finish up. We were generous enough though to give him a break or two! I uploaded a few pictures of some of my students working on this last sculpture. After we all finished Brad gathered us around the table where they were all displayed. He and the students critiqued certain pieces and talked about the enitre process especially working on the edge. Brad said that if the students learned nothing else but this process it would be all worth it. And I'll have to agree working on the edge helps to give your figure form as well as helps carve a much more realistic piece. Then Tara brought us back together where we once again discussed the piece the large piece that Brad is going to work on at his studio. Days before, we brainstormed certain ideas and emotions that we wanted this piece to possess. We reviewed all the words and then were asked which two of them we wanted to work on independently. Each student will create a tile approximately one foot square on which visual images of these words will be created. These tiles will eventually be included into the large finished piece. Wow, what a wonderful experience for these students and me! Our tiles will be part of the WCHS public art forever. Years from now we will be able to come back and see the tiles that we created during this workshop. They are all very excited about this! Well we are are anxious to see what Tara and Brad have for us next week. I'll be sure to keep you all informed.

Larry Hewett

WE STARTED CARVING TODAY

Today's class started with one more quick pose; however, it was not easier. This was a standing pose. The students found it difficult to make the piece stand on two feet. This is one reason we had to put a pillar or prop beside the model. This helped support the figurines. Brad worked with the students and showed them a few pointers. Then he brought out the carving tools but suggested that to begin with they only use their pencils for carving. Raheem volunteered to model next. Poor Raheem. Little did he know that Brad and Tara were going to put him into a kneeling pose. This is a pose that most likely will be part of the large piece that Brad is going to do. Everyone was asked to get more clay than before. All students began to work on their figures. They had learned by now that they must keep changing positions as they carve so that they can see the model from all angles. I even got into this exercise. I'll have to admit that the carving was quite challenging but Brad and Tara were constantly giving us all suggestions as to how to make our pieces better. Some students did try the carving tools that Brad brought with him. These tools are used to get more detail than can be obtained with the pencils. The main objective for today was learning how to work off the edge which gives volume to form. This exercise took longer than the others so we had to put them away under plastic until tomorrow. The plastic will help the clay from drying out. Just before they were covered for the evening Brad talked with us briefly about our day's work. All students and I are anxiously awaiting for tomorrow's class so that we can complete our sculptures.

Larry Hewett

BRAD AND TARA FINALLY MEET WCHS FACULTY

Today after school at the beginning of our faculty Mr. Kelly Jones, Columbus County Arts Supervisor and former WCHS instructor, introduced Brad and Tara to the faculty and staff. After the introduction all were invited to partake in refreshments. Then a short video about Brad and his brick sculpture was shown. Afterwards Brad addressed the faculty telling them about the project and the progress that was being made by my students in class. Everyone is very excited about the public art that Brad and Tara will create just for WCHS. We all know that it will be wonderful asset to our school for the students, faculty, staff and community.

Larry Hewett